About me:

I’m Nick, 33, lead editor and animator at Tatata Studios, London.  I’ve worked at Tatata as a full time editor for over 3 years now but before this I worked several different jobs for the company as a freelancer. Some of the first jobs I was tasked were actually musical compositions including a project for MTV, Les Mills, Zopa 🤷🏻‍♂️ and a company showreel!

Before becoming a video editor my background was in music. I studied A-Level Music at school and played piano to a grade 8 standard, once performing the Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin at a school Christmas concert in front of around 1000 people. After this I started producing music digitally and after studying music production with Ableton Live at Point Blank Music School in London for a year, some of my productions were thereafter featured on BBC radios and have since achieved over 200k plays on streaming platforms. Music production in a way is very similar to video editing, you are nearly always cutting a video to a piece of music or to specific sound effects. Having a good ear for correct music choice and sound design in my opinion is essential in becoming a proficient video editor.

Sound Design In Editing:

I’m going to breakdown the purpose of sound design, the fundamental elements and techniques for effective sound design and talk about the uses and importance of each.

Purpose of Sound Design in Editing:

• Setting the Mood and Atmosphere 🫣: Sound design adds a layer of depth and dimension to visual creating a sense of spacing and environment. Ambient sounds, background noise and spatial audio techniques can transport the audience into the scene, immersing them more into the story, bringing it to life and ultimately evoking the desired emotional response from the viewer.
• Conveying Information and Enhancing Storytelling 🤔: Dialogue and voiceovers are also a fundamental element of sound design. They provide context and help the audience understand the narrative behind the visuals, helping to connect the viewer to the story.
• Creating Rhythm and Pacing 💃🏻: Music and sound effects contribute to the rhythm and pacing of a video. Well-timed audio cues and transitions enhance the flow of the visuals, creating a much more engaging viewing experience. Syncing sound effects or beats in the music with specific on-screen actions or cuts creates a more seamless and visually stimulating sequence.

Key elements of Sound Design in Editing:

• Music 🎼: Music is and extremely powerful tool in video editing. The right music selection will help bring out emotions, create tension and convey specific moods. Having a wide knowledge of musical genres and carefully choosing the right tempo and instrumentation helps enhance the overall impact and strengthen the narrative.
• SFX 💥: Sound effects add realism and enhance the visual elements of the video. They can mimic real-world sounds or create new unique and imaginative effects. They help provide depth and authenticity to the visuals creating a more immersive experience.
• Dialogue, Voiceovers and Narration 🎤: Dialogue is an essential part of storytelling and therefore video editing. It helps convey information, provide context and establish connections between characters. Voiceovers and narration guide the audience through the narrative and help explain the meaning behind the visuals adding an additional layer of storytelling.

Techniques for Effective Sound Design:

• Audio Mixing and Balancing 🎛️:  Proper audio mixing and mastering ensures a balanced and harmonious blend of different audio elements. Adjusting volume levels, equalisation and panning techniques convey the desired auditory information to the viewer in a cohesive and pleasant mix.
• Foley Artistry 🎙️: Foley artistry involves recording and adding custom-made sound effects to enhance the visuals. Capturing everyday sounds and synchronizing them to the visuals brings a heightened level of realism and detail to the visuals.
• Timing and Synchronisation ⏱️: Precise timing and synchronisation of audio elements with visual cues is crucial for a seamless viewing experience. It can help bring more impact to important moments and a leave a longer lasting impression on the viewer.

Sound design is a crucial aspect of video editing, it has the power to enhance storytelling, evoke emotions and immerse the audience in the visual experience. Using the core elements; music, sound effects, dialogue and voiceovers, video editors bring the visuals to life with sound design and help captivate the audience.

Nick Horne